From: meadowcroft@bramley.demon.co.uk   
      
   Joe   
      
   > I have an old album that must have gotten damp because many of the   
   > mint stamps are stuck to the pages. Anyone have any ideas on how to   
   > get them un-stuck without ruining the album and soaking the pages, and   
   > removing the gum?   
      
   I don't know of a method that can at the same time preserve the album   
   pages for re-use, but with stamps that are worth making the effort   
   for, you could try the tedious but often effective hot/cold method.   
      
   Based on the fact that heat causes expansion and cold causes   
   contraction, try putting relevant portions of album pages into a   
   'fridge for some hours and then immediately putting them on top of a   
   radiator. After a few minutes try _very_ carefully - with stamp   
   tweezers if possible - to lift a corner. Only continue trying to   
   separate the stamp from the  page until there is any resistance, ie   
   the gum is still intact. If necessary, put them back into the 'fridge   
   and keep on repeating the treatment until the stamps are completely   
   lifted or until you lose patience!   
      
   Michael   
      
   Michael Meadowcroft   
   Waterloo Lodge   
   72 Waterloo Lane   
   Leeds LS13 2JF   
   GB   
   Tel: +44 (0)113 257 6232   
      
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